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  1. #1
    bpmee is offline Private Member
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    Default OddsShark drops some offshores? Other big sites going legal...

    Anyone know why OddsShark dropped big offshore sportsbook names?

    Literally 3 days before the Super Bowl, I see some Europe/Canada only sites from my USA IP. A couple random free play USA sites, also.

    I've noticed a few other big sites transitioning to legal USA sites. Others have dropped advertising and appear to be transitioning?

    Is this continued fallout from 5Dimes? Are states sending out warnings to affiliates?

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    tufty is offline Public Member
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    I dont know if something is wrong (or right) with their geo location targeting. When I use a VPN from USA the home page does show all the usual offshore sportsbook suspects. So they are still promoting them. When I move page, it seems to see right through the VPN and spot I am in UK and serve other bookies. I tried from two different locations in USA that usually work fine for the likes of Bovada. Their tiny map seemed to spot I was in UK once I moved off home page.

    That said, the angle of your post is still valid. How long will the offshore sportsbooks last? Will the USA authorities close them down one way or another, given the inroads the regulated market is making? The regulated market wont stand for the offshore competition and U.S. authorities need to protect its tax revenue.

    I promote unregulated to USA, and I am not optimistic. I think they'll be driven out of business - the only hope for them on the financial side is to go 100% crypto. I think that will be their first move but there are still other means for the U.S. to close them down when they really want to.

    5Dimes crumbled earlier than the others because of a unique situation - death of owner and his wife left holding a baby that was under attack. She didn't have the stomach for a battle with U.S authorities. Who can blame her. It wasn't her business, she just married into a dodgy situation.

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    Any concrete names? I see from Florida BetUS 1st, bovada, BOL...
    BetUS as 1st idk if was there ever but not a good sign for sure because they are thieves and OS knows it so they are on CPA or something.

    But who was dropped?

    It may be your VPN that is fked up.
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    You almost gave me a heart attack!

    I just browsed Oddshark and they are still offering offshore bookies to USA IPs.

    Even funnier, I realize now that they do NOT actually have separate lists for sports/poker. Since poker is kinda my thing I checked their USA poker rankings and the number 1 slot was a site that does NOT offer poker lol (their number 6 and 7 slots out of the 8 total listings also do not offer poker at all).
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  8. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sherlock View Post
    Any concrete names? I see from Florida BetUS 1st, bovada, BOL...
    BetUS as 1st idk if was there ever but not a good sign for sure because they are thieves and OS knows it so they are on CPA or something.
    Yes, they are the offshore firms I saw. Lots of people now promoting BetUS. The AMs are telling everyone the owners and management changed - which is a total lie. People will believe a lie if it suits them. I have had various of their affiliate managers come at me from different directions - PM here, email, contact form. I don't know if they are paying a lump sum to some people to start promoting them again or if affiliates just do it for nothing. Anyway, it seems these affiliates don't care that they promote a firm that rips off players and ripped them off badly in 2011. I've been surprised by the sites that are now promoting these crooks. They would deserve to have BetUS steal their money again. It is inevitable, unless the U.S. close them down first.

    My VPN may not be the best, but the OP is seeing strange things too. So I do think OS have an issue.

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    They contacted me few days ago. I told them to fo in even more harsh terms that just "fo".

    It is madness. Not that I understand people in Europe promoting crooks. But in the USA?
    If you talk to God, you are praying; If God talks to you, you have schizophrenia.

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  11. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sherlock View Post
    They contacted me few days ago. I told them to fo in even more harsh terms that just "fo".

    It is madness. Not that I understand people in Europe promoting crooks. But in the USA?
    I think after years of quite suddenly something moved there. I never received anything from them and last month email to each site.

    Someone who wasn't here for long can easily start promoting them.


    Regarding the original topic - I think that although offshores are there, it is a matter of time. Not short time but still. Specifically for sports. Casinos would last longer it seems.
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    Quote Originally Posted by MMM View Post
    Someone who wasn't here for long can easily start promoting them.
    True, but there are people on the thread from 2011 complaining about having all their referred players stolen who are now back promoting them. None of our comments relate to newbies who don't know better.

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    Quote Originally Posted by tufty View Post
    True, but there are people on the thread from 2011 complaining about having all their referred players stolen who are now back promoting them. None of our comments relate to newbies who don't know better.
    Maybe someone should ask those affiliates if they were paid off somehow to start promoting that brand again?

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    Quote Originally Posted by MMM View Post


    Regarding the original topic - I think that although offshores are there, it is a matter of time. Not short time but still. Specifically for sports. Casinos would last longer it seems.
    I have no idea why is this happening. At least in Europe. Casino and sports affiliates are quite different worlds. Are national markets of casinos less defended? Why they do not go after all gambling equally?
    If you talk to God, you are praying; If God talks to you, you have schizophrenia.

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    Thanks everyone for your replies. It was a combination of my VPN and upgrading my OS that messed things up. Didn't mean to scare anyone!

    I am seeing several big US sports sites going legal. Some were just promoting offshores as recent as last year. As I understand, most states want nothing to do with affiliates who previously promoted offshore brands.

    I know this because I've looked into acquiring licenses and both the fees and process are unfriendly to anyone crossing over.

    A large European lead generator is backing a few big names. They had no trouble getting licensed by multiple states, despite the high likelihood they are both operated and staffed by people who previously flaunted US law.

    Good on them for getting ahead of the curve.

    I do worry about what happens to the smaller operations in the coming years. I see 2 routes:

    1) Go fully legal - Drop all offshores, pay hefty application fees and hopefully secure CPA or Rev share deals with states offering leniency to former offshore affiliates.

    2) Paid Advertising - Sell advertising space to legal operations for a flat monthly fee. Treat it like a government contract: sign for 3-5 years and promise little in return, enjoy the gravy train while it lasts.

    Parting note: I did try promoting TwinSpires several years ago when they first entered the market. Between the crappy tracking, terrible creatives and anemic $60 CPA, I threw in the towel. My good horse players at Bovada and Bookmaker regularly lose $1000+ a year.

    $60 is alms for the poor.

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    Quote Originally Posted by bpmee View Post
    I do worry about what happens to the smaller operations in the coming years. I see 2 routes:

    1) Go fully legal - Drop all offshores, pay hefty application fees and hopefully secure CPA or Rev share deals with states offering leniency to former offshore affiliates.

    2) Paid Advertising - Sell advertising space to legal operations for a flat monthly fee. Treat it like a government contract: sign for 3-5 years and promise little in return, enjoy the gravy train while it lasts.

    3) Buy a private island, retire, and live the good life.

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    Quote Originally Posted by PROFRBcom View Post
    3) Buy a private island, retire, and live the good life.
    It's on the bucket list if I get rich between now and the end of the offshore era.

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    Quote Originally Posted by PROFRBcom View Post
    3) Buy a private island, retire, and live the good life.
    Yes, this might be a real option for those who have been paid in BTC and left it in BTC.

    Going from earning serious money from the offshore firms to peanuts from regulated firms is not an option. Anyone with the lack of ambition to accept $60CPA may as well go and get a job stacking shelves in their local supermarket.

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    Quote Originally Posted by PROFRBcom View Post
    3) Buy a private island, retire, and live the good life.
    &
    I want my life/freedom back
    are the only messages I keep getting nowadays.

    Well I am looking forward the wars between all the BTC hodlers, because just like amount of coins si limited, so is amount of the isles. I am hoarding popcorn to see how you will see that on island you will be still under some jurisdiction of stupid politicians and you will need everything from electricians to drinking water. Good luck to bake your own bread from aging wet flour when monsoon or rough water comes.

    Future, when your dreams come true, will be fun, really. Meanwhile I am going to do my bakery from old, wet flour. Because I live on peninsula only, wedged between ocean and lagoon. I can go shopping and see some people only once in 3 weeks. But I admire the bravery of city folks going to nowhere, just with their old gay chef (because nobody else will go there and when I say nobody, I mean especially not the lazy hookers).
    If you talk to God, you are praying; If God talks to you, you have schizophrenia.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sherlock View Post
    Well I am looking forward the wars between all the BTC hodlers, because just like amount of coins si limited, so is amount of the isles. I am hoarding popcorn to see how you will see that on island you will be still under some jurisdiction of stupid politicians and you will need everything from electricians to drinking water. Good luck to bake your own bread from aging wet flour when monsoon or rough water comes.

    Future, when your dreams come true, will be fun, really. Meanwhile I am going to do my bakery from old, wet flour. Because I live on peninsula only, wedged between ocean and lagoon. I can go shopping and see some people only once in 3 weeks. But I admire the bravery of city folks going to nowhere, just with their old gay chef (because nobody else will go there and when I say nobody, I mean especially not the lazy hookers).
    Dostoevsky, didn't know you were alive and running a gambling portal!

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    Yes, Twinspires was laughable. I tossed them within a few weeks. You know what's even funnier?

    The dropped their CPA to $40 for the 2020 Kentucky Derby rescheduled last September. After hue and cry, they sent out an email restoring it to $60.

    Like I said, comically, abusively, seriously stupid and sad. I really hope the industry doesn't go that way.

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